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This image released by Mime Films/Tanit Films shows Motaz Malhees in a scene from The Voice of Hind Rajab. (Photo via Mime Films/Tanit Films)
India has effectively blocked the release of "The Voice of Hind Rajab," an Oscar-nominated film telling the story of a five-year-old Palestinian girl killed in Gaza, in a move that has sparked debate over censorship and freedom of expression.
A film halted over foreign policy sensitivities
The film, which focuses on Hind Rajab, who lost her life during clashes between Israel and Hamas in Gaza last year, was submitted for approval to India’s Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), the official body responsible for clearing films for public screening.
According to the film’s Indian distributor, Jai Viratra Entertainment, it became clear during the review process that the film would not be approved. The distributor said a CBFC official indicated that releasing the film in India could “damage relations with Israel.”
Although no formal written rejection was issued, distributor Manoj Nandwana suggested that the outcome was effectively predetermined. He pointed out that the film had already been screened internationally and questioned why it would be considered sensitive, specifically in India.
Despite the apparent ban, the film was previously shown in November at an international film festival in Kolkata, a major cultural hub in eastern India. This earlier screening highlights the contrast between festival exposure and wider public release, which remains blocked.
Growing India-Israel ties shape the backdrop
The decision comes at a time when India has been expanding cooperation with Israel across multiple sectors, including defense, agriculture, technology, and cybersecurity. Diplomatic engagement has also intensified, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting Israel recently for a two-day trip, his second official visit since 2017, just days before U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran.
Opposition calls decision 'shameful'
The move has drawn criticism from opposition figures, including Shashi Tharoor, who described the ban as “shameful.” In a social media post, he argued that in a democracy, the screening of films should reflect freedom of expression rather than be shaped by intergovernmental relations.
Tharoor emphasized that banning cultural works out of concern that they might offend foreign governments undermines democratic maturity, adding that such practices should be discontinued.
